ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday expressed the confidence that the Afghan authorities will respond positively to Pakistan’s call for enhanced security at the border following a full-scale military operation Zarb-e-Azb in the North Waziristan tribal region.
In her media weekly briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that the military operation was launched in the tribal areas to eliminate terrorism and it is in Afghan’s own interest to cooperate with Pakistan.
The foreign office spokesperson said that Pakistan hopes that the Afghan government will take necessary measures on its side of the border to stop the militants fleeing North Waziristan into Afghanistan.
The spokesperson said that the purpose of the visit of special envoy Mahmood Khan Achakzai to Kabul was also aimed at seeking Afghan cooperation in management of the border.
Moreover, the visit of Afghan National Security Advisor Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta also aims to take the discussion forward on the matter, she said.
Tasnim Aslam recalled that Pakistan had taken extraordinary measures including restriction of movement and deployment of additional troops on the border when presidential elections took place in Afghanistan.
These security measures were appreciated not only by the Afghans but the international community as well, the spokesperson said.
No foreign help sought for IDPs
The spokesperson further said that Pakistan has not asked for any foreign assistance for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan. However, she added, that the United Arab Emirates has offered some sort of assistance for the IDPs.
